chastise
chas-TIZEverbMeaning to scold or punish severely
Memory hook CHASE-TISE: chased and scolded. The farmer chases the goats out of his garden, scolding them hard the whole way. To chastise is to scold or punish severely.
The farmer chastised his son for leaving the barn door open all night.
In context The critic chastised the city for letting the old theater fall apart, calling the neglect a disgrace to everyone who had ever loved the place.
Similar scold, castigate, punish, discipline
Opposite praise, reward, commend